First appassimento (Amarone-inspired) wine created in Canada (way back in 2001) - it’s a blend of Merlot (50%) with 25% each of the Cabernets. It is air-dried 4 weeks and macerated on skins a total of 3 weeks (one week before / one week during / one week after fermentation) … it is then aged 26 months in both French oak and French/American hybrid barrels. Silky, supple and sexy with rich chocolate, black cherry and black pepper at its core with bittersweet chocolate on the finish … but it’s that juicy middle that is its signature. The results here seem to be a perfected new Italian/Canadian style of appassimento, let’s call it “appassiment-eh” not “a”.  Price: $59.95 - Rating: ****+